By: Esha Bagora
Media Production Editor
Spring has sprung and in the early days of shining sun and light breezes, I found myself trapped inside the small gym taking AP exams. As a second-semester senior, the 2024 AP exams had never felt more pointless and painful.
I started the weekend before the 2024 AP exam season as I had every other previous year. I pulled out all of my AP textbooks, bought Quizlet premium, purchased a pack of flashcards, and dusted off my trusty #2 pencils. Armed with every school supply and AP review book under the sun, I plopped down at my desk ready to fill every nook, cranny, and crevice of my brain with Official College Board® material. However, just as I was about to crack open my notebook, my gaze fell on the sunlight filtering through my window, reminding me of everything I was missing (the sun) while purposefully locking myself inside to study for tests that weren’t going to mean that much to me when I got the scores back.
Immediately, I snapped the notebook shut, ran out the door, and drove to the beach. As I headed down Highway 17, I had the genius idea of reviewing everything while on the beach, but decided not to turn around to get my textbooks. My pre-AP weekend was spent lying on the Santa Cruz sand and frolicking in the ocean; I loved every minute of it.
My AP exams came and went. Frankly, I could not remember why I had spent previous years worrying so much and studying so much for them. None of them were particularly bad or horrible; I could answer every question (now did I answer them correctly? That’s a separate issue for a separate article pending in July when AP scores are released). Life as a second-semester senior whose AP scores don’t matter in the grand scheme of things sure is blissful.
Everything I just told you is a big fat lie. After my Office Depot shopping spree, the panic and fear of failing an AP exam, despite the fact that it wouldn’t really matter for anything, kept me chained to my desk. Every waking moment was spent scribbling notes and taking Quizlet practice tests. I did not leave my house let alone my room for days (two) on end. Sunday night, the day before my first exam, I slept with my textbooks and flashcards under my pillow in the hopes of absorbing more information through sleep osmosis. Even still, there were some FRQs where I scribbled “Thank you so much for grading my FRQs <3” at the bottom in hopes that I’d still pass.
I desperately wish I had the strength to blow off AP exam preparation, but alas I could not. The beach had to stay in my dreams. Maybe I’ll go this weekend! But finals are coming up soon…